My first gun was a Savage M24 DL, chambered for 22LR/20 ga shotgun. I was 16, and got it for Christmas. I still have the
gun and it is a regular with me whenever I'm hunting. I loved,
and still love this firearm! I'm 62 yo these days, and the only
thing I'd change is I'd prefer to have the top barrel a 30-30 or
7-30, and the bottom barrel still a 20-ga shotgun. That would be
the ultimate combo gun when hiking/exploring/scouting, or just plain hunting.
I remember on one hunting adventure, during the early hours of the morning walking up on a jackrabbit, firing several 22lr cartriges the rabbit never moved. Out of frustration, I walked up on the rabbit only to find it's intestines laying in front of it (it was already dead but didn't know it). Another time I ran into a covey of quail, I banged away with the 20-ga. When my brother who was with me finally caught up, suggested it was another hunter. He got an education as I picked up my quail.
I've never understood why Savage never understood the concept
of a combination gun. They didn't really have to offer a 12 ga
shotgun, nor the 357 Mag for the rifle barrel. Nor many of the
other variants they offered. This was a hunting firearm! Capable
of collecting anything from rabbits, squirrels, quail, pheasants,
chukar, foxes, coyotes, deer, and on a good day, black bears.
This was/is a gun that puts food on the table. Too bad Savage
didn't seem to understand that.
